Monaghan 3-15 Antrim 0-13

Goals ultimately proved the killer blows as Monaghan clinched promotion and consigned Antrim to Division Four for next season.

Monaghan got off to the perfect start with a goal by Christopher McGuinness in the opening minute and they added a second just on the half-hour when Kieran Hughes applied a sublime finish after he was placed with an inch-perfect cross by Colin Walshe.

Monaghan led at half-time by 2-9 to 0-7 and while Antrim put in a real battling performance in the second half, too often they failed to apply the finish that they needed to narrow the gap. Any chance they had of making a real battle of it was killed off 14 minutes into the second-half when Darren Hughes scored a brilliant solo goal to leave Monaghan ahead by 10 points.

Owen Duffy increased that lead to 11 points in the 51st minute with Antrim then getting three quickfire points two by Paddy Cunningham and one from Michael Pollock to reduce the deficit to eight.

But that was as good as it got for them as Monaghan tagged on points from Owen Lennon and two from frees by Connor McManus to seal victory with something to spare.

Monaghan finished the game with 14 players when Kieran Hughes was sent off on a second yellow card seven minutes from the end.